Terminal connecter



July 19, 1 932. LF EN 1,867,918

TERMINAL CONNECTER Filed March 7. 195:7

Patented July 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN LOFGREN, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T'O RALCO MANUFACTURING 00.. A CORPORATIONOF ILLINOIS TERMINAL CONNECTER Application filed March 7,

,This invention relates to terminal connecters, and more particularly tothreaded terminal connecters, adapted to positively engage and retainthe end of a conductor in contact with a terminal while the threadedmeans of the connecter are tightened, and to securely hold the connecterin contact with the terminal against the force of jerks and rough usage,until the threaded means are loosened.

Heretofore when a conductor was attached to a terminal by means of athreaded connecter the practice has been to wrap the end of theconductor around the bolt of the connecter and then to tighten the boltor nut of the connecter as the case may be. Sometimes by electriciansand many times by laymen the end of the conductor is wound around thebolt in a direction opposite to that in which the bolt is turned totighten it. This are results, due to the pressure exerted by thetightening of the bolt or nut, in unwinding the end of the conductor andthereby practically, if not totally disengaging it from the terminal andrequiring the process to be repeated. Usually in a connection madeinthis manner, the conductor by a slight jerk could be totally disengagedfrom the terminal, and frequently such connections become faulty andresult in short or open cirto cuits.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide meansfor securely re; taining a conductor in contact with a terminal whilebeing secured thereto by a threaded connecter.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a threaded connecteradapted to securely hold a conductor in contact with a terminal againstthe force of jerks and rough usage.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for readilyand easily securlng a conductor to a terminal with the elimination ofthe possibility of a poor contact or faulty connection.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparentfrom the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawing.

On the drawing:

1927. Serial No. 173,266.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a terminal connecter embodying features ofthe present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section through a terminal connection embodying aform of this 5 invention.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially 011 line Ill-III ofFigure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical section through a terminal connection showing amodification of the present invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line VV of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an elevational view, with parts in section, of terminalconnecter embodying' ib a modification of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on line VII-VII ofFigure 6.

Figure 8 is an elevational view with parts in section of a terminalconnecter embodying a further modification of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line IX-IX of Figure8.

As shown on the drawing:

The reference numeral 1 indicates a terminal with a flattened end 2having a threaded aperture 3 therein. A bolt 4 is engaged in saidthreaded aperture 3, the terminal, in effect, acting as a nut for thebolt. Surrounding the bolt 4 is an inverted cup washer 5, provided withan integral annular flange 6. Passages 7 are provided in the flange 6 topermit the entrance therein, and exit therefrom if desired, of aconductor 8.

In the use of the invention the bolt 4 is encircled by a conductor orconductive cable 8, as shown in Figure 3, and the flanged washer 5 isplaced over the conductor so that.

flange 6 will retain the conductor in its de-" sired position while thebolt 4 is being securely fastened. Obviously, the flange 6 will retainthe conductor in its desired position regardless of the pressure exertedby the tightening of the bolt 4. It is to be noted that the flangewasher 5 may be inverted with respect to its position in Figure 2 sothat the head of bolt 4 will press directly upon the conductor withoutdeparting from the principle of the present invention.

gso

As shown in Figures 4 and 5 in a modification of the present invention,the flanged washer 5a having an annular flange 6a provided with passages7a therein, is provided with an integral and substantially horizontalflange 9 which permanently and rotatably engages the head 10 of bolt la.

Figures 6 and 7 disclose a further modification of this invention.Reference numeral 11 indicates a nut having a threaded annular ring 12depending therefrom and integral therewith, said ring 12 being flangedoutwardly in its lower end, as shown at 18. A I

flanged washer 5b is permanently and rota-tably secured to the nut 11 bythe outward flange 13 on ring 12. The washer 5?) is provided with adepending flange 6?) having passages 76 therein. A bolt 4J2 is engagedby nut 11. In the operation of this modification a conductor is woundaround bolt 46 and the nut 11 screwed down upon it. The head 14 of bolt4?) is adapted to enter the flange 6?) and directly engage theconductor, passages 76, of course, providing means for the end of theconductor to enter the flange 6?). Since the washer 5b is rotatablerelatively to the .nut 11, the washer and flange may be readily adjustedover the conductor and easily maintained in this position until theparts are tightened.

Figures 8 and 9 show the use with a bolt and nut of the form of thisinvention disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 and previously described.Reference numeral 50 indicates a washer with a depending annular flange60 and which is not attached to nut 15, but which is merely shownabutting nut 15 for the purpose of more clearly illustrating the device.Vhen the conductor is wound on the bolt and secured by the flange 60, ina manner previously described, and the nut is tightened, the head 16 ofthe bolt 40 will enter the flange 60 and bear directly against theconductor.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a novel means forreadily and easily connecting a conductor to a terminal, for insuring apermanent connect-ion, and

clampingly engage said conductor when said head enters the flange ofsaid member upon relative movement between said bolt and saidnut, saidmember being rotatable rela- 'tively to said nut to maintain apositionof adjustment relative to said conductor until the same is engaged bysaid bolt head.

2. In a device of the character described, an electrically conductivebolt and an electrically conductive nut engageable therewith, a flangedring on one of said elements, a member associated with said flangedring, and a passaged flange extending from said member for positioningover a conductor previously positioned around said bolt to hold saidconductor against the top port-ion of said bolt when pressedthereagainst by relative movement between said bolt and said nut, saidmember being rotatable relatively to said rin whereby said member andflange may be quickly adjusted relatively to said conductor.

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of adjustablyconnectible and electrically conductive members, one of said members tobe engaged by a conductor, and an element attached to the other of saidmembers and having a flange-like portion extending therefrom forembracing and holding said conductor in conductive engagement with saidfirst member when actuated by relative movement between said members,said element being rotatable relatively to both of said members wherebysaid element may be readily adjusted to a position for embracing saidconductor.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, CookCounty, Illinois.

JOHN LOFGREN.

eliminating possibility of a faulty connection I I and the dangertherefrom. Devices embodying the present invention are inexpensive tomanufacture and may be assembled with a minimum of labor. They also savetime and labor int-he use thereof, and produce a much more effectiveresult than those devices usually provided heretofore for the samepurpose.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through awide range without departing from the principles of this invention andI, therefore, do not pur-.

1. In a device of the character described,

an electrically conductive bolt, an electrically conductive nutengageable therewith, and a

